Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)
Chapter 136: "Can you at least tell me your name?"

Chapter 136: "Can you at least tell me your name?"

Han Xin thrust his sword into her hands. "Look up," he said, pointing towards the jagged ceiling where there was a ledge high above. "You go up there and wait for the right moment to strike through its head."

Xiang Yu nodded, gripping the sword tightly. "Okay," he replied, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins. But just as he prepared to leap into action using his light foot skills, Han Xin’s hand shot out like lightning grabbing his waist.

He pulled him back into his arms with such urgency that it stole all breath from Xiang Yu’s lungs. For one fleeting moment amidst chaos, time seemed to come to a stop. Han Xin gazed down at him with an intensity that turned everything else into mere background noise, the serpent slithering ominously behind them felt quite disrespected.

"Xiu..." Han Xin murmured softly. Without warning, he pressed his lips to Xiang Yu in a fierce, desperate kiss. It was so fervent it sent waves of heat crashing through him. Xiang Yu’s mind spun, the kiss leaving him dizzy and breathless.

Startled by such raw emotion spilling forth from Han Xin, Xiang Yu felt himself melting against those warm lips. In that intoxicating moment where danger lurked nearby yet somehow felt distant, he became acutely aware that this man was nothing good. He had so much power over him more than he cared to admit.

Xiang Yu felt a rush of conflicting emotions. He was the demon in this situation. To others, he was the one who seduced and manipulated people. But now, in Han Xin’s arms, he felt vulnerable, as if he had been the one ensnared by a lecherous spirit.

Just as quickly as it began, Han Xin released him abruptly. "Come back to me safely," he urged fiercely but tenderly. Xiang Yu’s knees felt like jelly after that sensational kiss. Han Xin’s fingers brushed gently against his cheek, a touch that sent shivers down his spine. "Go," he whispered, his voice a soft command.

Xiang Yu couldn’t help but smile, a radiant expression that lit up his face and made Han Xin’s heart melt into a puddle. Han Xin’s throat tightened as he watched Xiang Yu walk away, the sight both beautiful and painful.

Xiang Yu, still dazed from the kiss, stumbled slightly, his foot catching on a loose rock. He heard Han Xin’s voice echo through the cave, filled with concern. "Be careful!"

Embarrassment flushed Xiang Yu’s cheeks, and he didn’t dare look back. He focused on the task at hand, climbing up the cave wall with the agility and grace of a dancer. Above, he nestled into a crevice, his heart pounding as he watched Han Xin below.

From his vantage point, he could see Han Xin’s desperate struggle. He watched him dart behind stalagmite as the snake slithered after him. A deep voice belonging to the Divine Emperor echoed in Xiang Yu’s mind, "You better make this right, you little vixen." It was obvious that he was still upset about what happened last night.

Xiang Yu gritted his teeth fiercely and muttered under his breath, "You better not distract me right now." The Divine Emperor snorted before fading away, leaving Xiang Yu to his thoughts. When he saw that Han Xin was in danger, he almost leapt down to save him, but he held back, trusting in Han Xin’s abilities.

Han Xin darted behind a stalagmite, the snake’s massive body crashing through the cave, breaking rock formations and sending dust swirling into the air. The snake’s enraged cries reverberated through the cavern, shaking the very ground beneath them. Xiang Yu crouched low, his face set in a determined, almost devilish expression. He rubbed the tips of his fingers together nervously, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The tension in the cave was palpable, every second stretching into an eternity. Xiang Yu’s eyes never left Han Xin, his heart in his throat as he prepared to slaughter the snake.

His eyes narrowed when he saw the perfect opportunity. His lips quirked into an evil grin, and he took a step back before leaping down with vigour. The wind whipped through his hair as he descended, the hilt of his sword gripped tightly in his hand. With intense strength, he drove the blade into the snake’s body, but it wasn’t deep enough to be fatal.

The snake writhed in agony, its tail lashing out and striking the cave walls, sending stalagmites and stalactites crashing down with debris flying everywhere. Xiang Yu gritted his teeth, struggling to hold on as the snake tried to shake him off. The creature’s head suddenly slammed into the cave wall repeatedly, risking its own injury in a desperate attempt to dislodge him.

Xiang Yu was driven into the wall, his grip loosening as his head struck the rock. A buzzing filled his ears, and his vision blurred. The snake slithered away, shaking its head violently to remove the sword, but the blade remained embedded. It wailed in anger, its cries echoing through the cavern as Xiang Yu fell from a great height.

Just as he thought he was about to hit the ground; a pair of powerful arms caught him. It was Han Xin. Han Xin had caught him despite his own arm being broken. He ignored the pain in his broken arm, his face stern as he placed Xiang Yu into a small tunnel in the ground, a space too narrow for the snake to reach. Xiang Yu, dazed and loopy, gripped Han Xin’s sleeve weakly. "No, don’t go," he murmured, his voice slurred.

Han Xin’s eyes softened for a moment. "Stay here. I will be right back," he said firmly, before turning to face the snake once more.

"No, don’t," Xiang Yu repeated his voice loopy from pain-induced haze. He tried to grip Han Xin’s sleeve again but he only caught air. He tried to get up, but his head throbbed with excruciating pain, and his vision doubled.

He could hear the sounds of the struggle outside, the clash of scales against stone, and Han Xin’s grunts of effort. Worry gnawed at him, but he was powerless to help, his body refusing to obey his commands.

Xiang Yu coughed the dust from the small tunnel filling his lungs and making his eyes water. The chaos outside had finally died down, leaving an eerie silence in its wake. His eyes stung with grains of sand, rendering him nearly blind. He pressed his palm to his head, the pain throbbing like knives stabbing into his skull.

With great effort, he crawled out of the tunnel, his fingers digging into the soil for support. He coughed again, his voice hoarse as he called out, "Han Xin!" The tunnel was still obscured by dust, making it difficult to see anything clearly. As he moved cautiously, his fingers brushed against cool earth and rough stone searching for any sign of him. He suddenly grazed something slick. It felt cold and rough, like the scales of a snake.

Suddenly, his hand was held by a firm grip closed around his wrist. Han Xin pulled him into his arms, hugging him tightly. "Don’t touch it, it’s dirty," he said, his voice a mixture of relief and concern.

Xiang Yu was too stunned to speak, his body freezing in Han Xin’s embrace. He was hugging him from behind, the tip of his nose brushing against Xiang Yu’s neck. Han Xin inhaled deeply, taking in his scent, and tightened his hold. "Don’t ever do that again," he whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "I was afraid I would lose you... I love you."

Xiang Yu swore internally, feeling a rush of conflicting emotions. This man was making everything more complicated than it should be. He remained still, his heart pounding in his chest, as Han Xin’s words echoed in his mind. The warmth of his embrace was both comforting and disconcerting, leaving Xiang Yu unsure of how to respond.

"I will still love you no matter who you are," he said and Xiang Yu’s soul almost left his body. What the hell did he mean by that? Did Han Xin already know who he was? No, if he knew, then he wouldn’t be making out with him like a beast in heat.

***

The tunnels stretched out before them, a labyrinth of shadows and echoes. Xiang Yu walked in silence his hand held firmly by Han Xin. Han Xin refused to let go, insisting that he was afraid he might slip. Xiang Yu didn’t argue, his mind too preoccupied to protest. He followed Han Xin, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and uncertainty.

After a while, he stopped abruptly, causing Han Xin to feel the tug on his arm. He turned around, concern etched on his face. "What’s wrong?" he asked gently.

Xiang Yu shook his head. "It’s nothing," he replied, but Han Xin could see the turmoil in those beautiful eyes. Ever since he had revealed that he knew she wasn’t the real Princess Xiu, there had been a noticeable change in her behaviour. He now regretted his honesty, fearing it had driven a wedge between them. He just wanted to finally call her by her real name.

Han Xin cupped Xiang Yu’s cheek, his touch tender and apologetic. "I know I should have told you sooner," he said softly. "I just didn’t want you to leave."

Xiang Yu remained silent his gaze averted. Han Xin’s heart pounded with fear, terrified that this might be the end. She might end things with him and he would never see her again. That thought was extremely terrifying. His voice trembled slightly as he pleaded, "Can you at least tell me your name? Just your name and I will be happy."

Xiang Yu looked up, meeting Han Xin’s eyes. The vulnerability in the man’s expression was disarming, and for a moment, he felt a pang of guilt. Who could refuse to look into those puppy dog eyes? He took a deep breath, the words catching in his throat. "My name... my name is Yu Yu, that’s all you need to know," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Han Xin’s eyes softened with relief, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yu Yu," he repeated as if savouring the sound. He bit his lip slightly before saying, "Thank you for telling me." The tension between them eased slightly, and Han Xin squeezed Xiang Yu’s hand reassuringly.

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